Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight Saga. No Copyright infringement is intended.

Author's Note: So…I'm sitting here in a hotel room in Chicago having just written the last official chapter for Flyboy and sending it off to my beta. This is when I realized….if I'm done, then why don't I go ahead and give you guys the next chapter tonight and then give you 26 and the Epi next week? No reason to hold back now…especially when I'm chilling alone in a room while my kids are sleeping and my hubby his hanging out with his cousin at his place. What better to cheer me up than a few reviews? So here you go guys, the next to last official Flyboy chapter before the epi. I hope you like it! Also preview for 26 up on my blog acullenwannabe dot blogspot dot com

Also thanks to my girl AgoodWITCH for getting this back to me tonight so I could share :)


A Clean Start

I laid as still as I could beside Edward, relishing in the smells and sounds of his body sleeping soundly at my side. I ran my hand soothingly up and down his arm as I watched the shadows created by the light shining in from the window play across his features in his sleep. Occasionally he would frown or sigh, but for the most part his sleep was quite restful.

We lay together like that for just over four hours when I heard his breathing change and watched as his eyes slowly opened, deliberate blinks chasing the sleep away as he struggled to keep his eyes open so he could look at me. The expression bubbling behind his eyes gave the impression that he was waiting for me to disappear before his eyes like a mirage in the desert. I was pleased to know that he would not be facing that disappointment at least.

His hand lifted and moved shakily between us until it made contact with my cheek. With a whooshing breath, he leaned in resting his forehead against mine. "It was all real."

I chuckled running my hand up and around his neck to nestle in the soft hairs at the nape. "Yes, my sweetheart. It's real. You're really home and I'm really here with you. I'm not going anywhere, baby, so just relax and go back to sleep."

He shook his head slowly, that smirk I knew and loved creeping across his face. "Not on your life, baby. I've already missed far too many hours, days, weeks, and even years. I just got," he turned to look at the ticking clock beside the bed, "four hours of more restful sleep than I have gotten in the past two years. I'm more than ready to wake up and enjoy getting to know my wife better."

He cuddled closer, nuzzling my neck with his nose and sighing contentedly. He shifted slightly closer before pausing. He lifted his head and sniffed before crinkling his nose in disgust.

"Ugh. I completely forgot that I am in desperate need of a bath. Why don't you go relax and maybe look into finding goodies to make a sandwich or something while I go take a bath and shave? I'll be down in a minute."

I looked at him a few seconds as he looked back in confusion. When I smirked at him he seemed completely lost and also a little excited. "I have another idea. How about I help you get cleaned up since it can't be easy to do while having that full leg cast on, and then we'll think about food once you're feeling human again?"

He looked slightly disappointed for a moment as he stared down at his cast with annoyance before he looked back at me with a smile. He shifted slightly on his side of the bed and I felt myself chuckle knowing his head had gotten past his frustration at his current disability to the idea of me helping him bathe. His thought processes were not too far from my own. I felt awkward around him, conscious of my own changed form. I was hoping that if I could help him clean up, it would serve to slowly help the both of us adjust to physical intimacy again.

With assistance, Edward rose from the bed and walked with me to our bathroom. I helped him slip out of his pants, leaving him in his boxers, before helping him sit on the lid of the toilet. He shifted sheepishly and I instantly felt bad for the emasculation he must have been feeling at that moment. With any luck, I could help ease that problem quite soon.

I turned my back to him, filling the sink with warm water and grabbing a wash cloth from the vanity beneath. I reached into the tub stall to pull out a bar of soap and the shampoo. When the sink was full, I shut off the taps and turned back to Edward with a smile when I realized he had been watching my every move.

I looked at him a few seconds before I reached behind me to unbutton my pencil skirt, pushing it off of my hips to fall at my feet. I almost chuckled at the surprised expression on Edward's face.

"Well, it's only fair, sweetheart. Besides, it would be nearly impossible to maneuver around to take care of you with that tight skirt on."

I winked as I moved to take the wash cloth, wringing out the water and rubbing the bar of soap across the cloth. Once the wash cloth was ready, I moved closer, forced to straddle his casted leg in order to get close enough to wash his face and neck.

I smiled as Edward closed his eyes and hummed appreciatively as I gently scrubbed away the dirt of his travels the night before. I rinsed the cloth and swiped the skin I had just cleansed again to remove the soap.

I tossed the cloth back into the sink and I moved to lift his arms, undoing the clasps on the cuffs of his long sleeve army issue uniform shirt. Once they were released, I moved up to his collar, slowly unbuttoning his shirt. I watched as his chest was slowly revealed, looking up occasionally to see him gazing at me with burning eyes that made my stomach twitch with delicious memories of our first week as husband and wife.

My mouth grew dry as I reached the bottom of the shirt, my hand brushing across the physical manifestation of the desire in his clear green eyes. I couldn't help the blush that bloomed as my heart began to pound. It was a definite affirmation that in spite of the changes in me, he still found me appealing.

I released the last of the buttons, letting my hands caress the hard ripples of his abs that stood amongst his ribs, no other cushioning to be found. It was quite scary how thin he had become since he had left New York. He hummed as I soothed my hands up his chest and onto his shoulders before sliding up to his newly refreshed neck and massaging the tense muscles lovingly.

With a shy smile, I slowly leaned in to kiss his lips, which immediately parted at my touch, as I slid my hands over his shoulders and down his arms to slid the shirt from his body. As I did so, Edward moaned into my mouth, his hands moving up to grasp my hips and pull my body flush with his own. I whimpered as he held me close, our bodies aligning instinctively.

After several minutes of passionate kissing, we broke apart panting. I smirked at him as I tried to regain my breath. "Now, now Mr. Cullen. We're never going to get you clean if we keep distracting ourselves like that."

His eyes sparkled in a way that matched the humor and freedom I was feeling from our exchange. Little by little we were remembering what we shared together in a more tangible, physical sense. He reached forward and grasped the hem of my own button up blouse that I had worn to the office that morning with a devious expression.

"It's about to get even more distracting, Mrs. Cullen, since I do believe you said something about it being only fair. If I'm in nothing but my underwear, then so should you be."

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding behind my breast as he lifted my right hand from his shoulder where it was braced, kissing the back before releasing the tiny pearl button at the cuff. He did the same with the left before sliding his hands up my arms to grasp at the collar of my shirt. With deft skill, he quickly released the row of tiny white pearls that held the front of the shirt in place, groaning as the skin of my torso, hidden only by my brazier, was exposed.

He let his fingers dance across my skin, up and down the curve of my waist and across the skin of my abdomen where a few telltale stretch marks remained as a permanent reminder of my daughter's stay within my body. I blushed, wishing I could die from embarrassment until I heard him grumble, moving one hand to tip my face back to his.

"Oh no you don't, Bella. These are beautiful to me because they mean that you gave me our little Cherie. Honestly, I can already say that I love your new curves."

I blushed again as his hands drifted around once more up my ribs, brushing the underside of my slightly fuller breasts before reaching up to my shoulders and sliding my shirt off my frame to join his on the floor. Another groan left his body as he pulled me flush with him once more, layering a series of kisses across my neck, shoulder, and collarbone before drifting to do the same on the other side.

I tossed my head back and whimpered as the sensations rolled through my body again. My body arched in reaction when his hands began to caress my breasts while his lips continued to caress my shoulders, bringing our bodies into full contact causing us both to groan as my body bucked against his arousal now standing at full mast.

I froze and looked at him as he looked at me in a similar manner. Our bodies were more than ready, but we still worried that the other wasn't emotionally ready for what was certain to come next. Edward smiled sadly, raising his hand to brush my cheek lovingly before pulling me in for another gentle kiss.

"We better get back on track or we will never get me cleaned up so we can get back in bed and talk some more," he said with a sigh.

I nodded, turning back to grab the washcloth from the now cooling water. I slicked up the cloth before bringing it to his chest, moving in slow circles to wash away the dirt of his travel. With each swipe, I could feel my body reacting more and more to his close proximity. Edward shifted several times, trying to relieve his own discomforts as my hand drifted further down toward his groin. I stopped just before I reached it, rinsing the cloth and repeating the process to remove the soap residue. I continued the process with his arms and back before kneeling before him to wash his toes that stuck out of the end of his casted leg before moving to his good leg.

The closer my hand got to the top of Edward's thigh, the more labored both of our breathing became. I rinsed away the soap before preparing the cloth again and turning toward him with a determined expression. Without a word, I shakily reached behind me to unclasp my bra, letting it drop to the floor before I nodded toward his boxers. I felt uncomfortable as he stared at me for a long time, his eyes appearing glazed and distracted. A slow smile spread across his lips before she shook his head, his eyes twinkling.

"If I'm going to be completely naked, then so shall you."

I felt my face heat, before I reluctantly acquiesced. "Okay, but let's take care of yours first."

He nodded, raising his hips as I grasped the waistband, pulling it down to free his flesh completely from his travel clothes. The second the cloth slid to his lower thigh, his extremely prominent erection bounced toward me, taking me off guard as time had dimmed my memory ever so slightly of exactly how large he truly was. A flood of memories took over as I remembered the first time I encountered it and how scared I was. I was no longer afraid of it per se. I just hoped I hadn't forgotten everything I had learned during that glorious week at the Waldorf.

Once I had tugged the material free from his body, I reached for the cloth only to be greeted by Edward's clucking tongue. "Oh no, Mrs. Cullen. A deal is a deal."

I blushed again with a nod as I reached for the waistband of my panties. I didn't make it to them before I was stopped by Edward who leaned forward, licking his lips. "No, please let me." I could feel my body reacting, my panties growing damp from its response.

He nuzzled my core as he bent at the waist to push my panties as far as he could, making me gasp. He hummed in appreciation as he sat back up, his hands drifting over my thighs and hips to rest on my waist with his ascent. "My memory does not do you justice, love. I can't wait to experience that part of you again."

I reached out for the cloth, beginning with the crease of his right hip and washed across the thin joint before drifting to do the same on the other side. Once the rest of the flesh was clean, I finally moved the cloth to his manhood, using the pressure I remembered him enjoying as I diligently washed his shaft. He yelled out, tossing his head back to expose the straining sinews of his muscles. The sight was beautiful as he panted my name while I rhythmically washed him far more thoroughly than was entirely necessary.

I continued as he bucked and panted until he reached his peak. His eyes simmered for me as he watched me use the cloth to wash away the evidence before rinsing it and using it to wash away the soap residue as well. When I was done, I was tugged to straddle him where he sat, our bodies no longer separated by cloth felt glorious as they met in the place where we most wanted them to.

Edward hissed as I moaned tossing my head back. "Not here," he panted as he instinctually ground my warmth against his reawakening arousal.

"Are you sure that you are ready for that at all, sweetheart?" I asked timidly. I didn't want him to do anything he wasn't sure about.

His eyes bore into me as they stared straight into my soul. "Never, ever doubt that, Isabella Marie Cullen. Not a day has gone by that I haven't wanted you in every way and I doubt that day will ever come. Of course I want that, the question is are you ready?"

I sighed as a tear trickled over my cheek. "Of course I am. I have missed you so much, Edward."

I didn't get a chance to say anything else as his mouth claimed mine. With a strength and ability that shocked me, he maneuvered me back slightly without breaking the kiss and stood before me, shuffling us toward the bed. Our hands were voracious as we shuffled together across the room.

Just before we reached the bed, he turned us so that he fell onto the bed first, bringing me on top of him. In that moment, it seemed as though everything fell into place. It was as if not a single day had passed as our bodies began to play one another in the ways that only a husband and wife know how to manipulate the other. Sighs and gasps filled the air before I found myself mumbling incoherently as I knelt above Edward's face while he drank excitedly of my juices. The force of my climaxes, and there were several provided by his mouth and fingers alone, were enough to make me weak.

I was on the verge of collapse when my husband gently slid me back down his body and partook of my lips in the same moment that our cores found one another and slid into perfect unity without any direction or assistance. We moaned into one another's mouths as the sense of peace and completion beat out all other sensations or emotions. We were now completely home where we belonged.

Our love poured through our kisses as we moved slowly, savoring every second of the completion we felt. We whispered oaths of love and desire as we kissed and touched, gazing into one another's eyes any time that we weren't joined at the lips. As the emotions grew more and more great, our movements grew more fast and forceful until with a grunt and a squeal we found our climax together.

I collapsed upon his chest, as we became a sweaty pile of flesh and limbs intermingled with one very uncomfortable plaster cast. Neither of us bothered to move, and thus when I awoke the next morning, I was still laying above him, my hips aching from the strange position, straddling him throughout the course of the night.

I tried not to wake him as I attempted to climb off of him to go use the restroom, but before I could shift more than an inch, his arms were grasped tightly around my waist, holding me to him.

"Where exactly do you think you are going, Mrs. Cullen?"

I chuckled. "To answer nature's call. Besides, everyone will be here soon for breakfast. We need to get up and get cleaned and dressed for the day."

Edward chuckled, the old familiar twinkle in his eyes. "Awe, come on. They know we're pretty much newlyweds for all the time we spent together before I had to leave. They'll forgive us if we're a bit late."

I chuckled shaking my head as I reached for his ribs to tickle him in order to escape. "Sorry love, but we've got a little girl to see too. You don't want to keep your little Cherie waiting do you?"

Nothing more needed said. In an instant, he was out of the bed and shuffling toward the bathroom to get ready by my side. I sighed happily that he was finally home to share the mundane day to day events with me. I would trade most any treasure in the world besides my daughter in order to have him by my side as we brushed our teeth from that point on.

The crowd was already assembled around the dining room table when we shuffled in. Everyone cheered and ran to hug Edward as we came in. Yesterday he had more or less had tunnel vision focused on me and Cherie, but now he was able to focus on the others around us as well. After his hugs, his mother and father holding on the longest, he shuffled over to the open seat next to our daughter, kissing the top of her head before slipping in next to her.

I smiled as I watched Cherie look up at him shyly through her lashes before grabbing a piece of banana off of her tray and offering it to him. My heart warmed as I saw the love in his eyes as he chuckled and leaned in, opening his mouth to accept her offering as she had done from him the day before. Cherie giggled and reached for another to hand him when he laughed and told her that she should eat that piece.

Breakfast fell into a comfortable pace after that as everyone took turns telling Edward all about what he missed while he was gone. He smiled and listened attentively, sucking up all the information he could while reaching over to help Cherie or hand her something when it was out of reach. It was amazing to me how easily he fell into the father role with her.

Then the topic of conversation turned to me and I ducked my head and focused on my pancakes, my face glowing fire engine red.

"You should have seen her, Edward! You would have been so proud. She walked in there like she owned the place, which essentially she did, and she didn't bat an eye. In one foul swoop, she dethroned Aro, shamed the entire room, and returned me to the position you left me in. It was amazing. You definitely know how to pick your women, Edward. Now you just have to teach me how to find a woman as smart, ballsy, and beautiful as Bella."

I glanced up through my lashes to see Edward staring at me with the most wondrous look on his face. It was almost like he was seeing me for the first time which made me blush even deeper. I smiled before hiding in my plate again, only to find a few seconds later that I was being pulled from my chair by a warm hand. I turned in surprise to find Edward standing behind me seconds before he captured my lips in a searing kiss and enveloped me in his strong arms.

"I love you so much, Bella. Truly, I do. You are beyond a doubt the most amazing woman I have ever known. You have given me everything I could ever need. Thank you for giving me the honor of calling myself your husband."

I gaped, dumbfounded and at a total loss for words. Finally I managed to squeak out an "I love you too."

The group dispersed not long after that, leaving Edward and I more or less alone with Cherie. Sue made some food for us to warm for lunch and dinner before disappearing as well to leave us all alone. Slowly Cherie grew more and more comfortable around Edward who somehow managed to settle onto the floor so he could play with her.

When it drew close to her nap time, Cherie came over with a book and sat pointedly down on Edward's good leg, pushing the book into his face. He laughed before picking it up and beginning to read the words on the page before talking about the pictures. Cherie would giggle when he would try to do the voices of the characters; failing pretty miserably, I might add. I watched in joy from across the room as he fumbled through the whole thing, and yet Cherie loved it much more than when we usually read. As soon as it was done, she toddled off bringing a new book. Three books later, her eyes were beginning to droop as she rested her head on her father's arm. I watched as he sighed, his eyes drifting to her face often as she relaxed more and more in his embrace until eventually, she fell asleep.

I offered to take her to lay her down, but he refused. He sat on the floor for a full hour doing nothing but watching her sleep in his arms. I knew his body had to be protesting spending so long on the hard wood floor, not to mention while in a cast, but he never complained and never even tried to shift. He just stared lovingly down at the sweet little features of our daughter's face, humming a tune occasionally, and reaching up to brush soft locks of her hair away from her face or stroke her cheek with the back of his finger.

When Cherie woke up, her eyes blinked open slowly. She frowned for a moment as if confused before she yawned and stretched with a smile. "Dada," she whispered sweetly. Edward and I gasped in union. I saw the tears streaming down his cheeks only seconds before my own vision blurred.

With that one tiny word, our whole world fell into place. Our family was now complete with everyone having their own role, and for the first time in two years, I no longer feared for us in any way.